Tile press



April 21, 1964 p, J, WEAVER 3,129,483

TILE PRESS Filed March 1, 1963 INVENTOR PAUL 'J W64 VBQ United States Patent 3,129,483 TELE PRESS Paul J. Weaver, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to True-Trace Corporation, El Monte, Calif, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,086 14 Claims. (Cl. 25-92) This invention relates to a tile press.

The manufacture of tile continues to be carried out with equipment of very old design and concept. Its operation requires a considerable amount of judgment by the operator. The exercise of this judgment takes time, thereby slowing down the production rate, and produces tile of variable quality. Furthermore, conventional machines usually utilize a screw or hydraulic ram for compacting the material and, in order to do the job with static pre sures, forces on the order of fifty tons are required. Such machines are inherently difficult to handle, and are very bulky in construction.

A machine according to this invention utilizes the impact principle in which, after an initial compaction, several weights are dropped on the material in rapid succession. The weights need only be on the order of 100 lbs. each, and need fall only about six inches in height to produce compressed clay blanks for tile having the same compactness as those obtained from conventional presses. Such a press can be made of much lighter construction than conventional types.

Another object of this invention is to provide a press whose operation is cyclically repetitive, and which operate on the order of about 40 and 50 cycles per minute.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the machine inherently corrects its own settings in response to error signals in order to produce tile blanks of a desired, pre-selected thickness.

A tile press according to this invention comprises an upper ram adapted to reciprocate along a vertical axis, a plurality of weights adapted to be sequentially dropped along said axis to impact on said upper ram, a lower die, and a lower ram axially aligned with the upper ram and adapted to reciprocate along the axis. A sidewall forms an open topped die cavity with the lower die, the upper ram being so shaped as to enter the cavity in order to compact material placed therein, and thereafter to transmit impact forces from the weights.

Upper ram actuating means is provided for lifting and forcing down the upper ram. Lower ram actuating means is provided for adjustably positioning the lower ram on the axis. A filler tray is adapted to be moved laterally relative to the axis and over the cavity in order to fill the cavity with material to be compacted. Tray actuating means is provided for reciprocating the tray between positions over and away from the cavity. Weight actuating means is provided for sequentially releasing the weights to fall upon the upper ram.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, a base block is provided beneath the bottom ram, and the lower ram is adapted to assume three positions: an ejector position wherein a completed tile blank is supported by the lower die to be laterally pushed away from the top thereof, a filler position wherein the die and the sidewall form a cavity to receive the proper amount of uncompacted material to form the tile blank, and a compressive position wherein the lower ram rests on the base to transmit impact blows directly thereto.

According to still another preferred but optional feature of the invention, thickness control means is provided in which the axial position of the lower die in the filler position is adjustable in order to control the amount of material received from the filler tray for making a tile blank.

The above and other features of this invention will be 3,129,483 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a tile machine according to the invention;

FIGS. 25 are side elevations of cam mechanisms used in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a right-hand end view of FIG. 5 showing the cams of FIGS. 25 mounted to a cam shaft; and

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows the presently preferred embodiment of tile press 19 according to the invention. The press ineludes an upright frame 11 and a base 12.

A table 13 includes an upper surface 14 which surrounds a top opening 15 of a cavity 16 within which pulverulent material is to be compacted into a tile blank by the device.

A base block 17 has an internal passage passing an elevator rod 13. The block also journals a gear 19 which engages a rack on the elevator rod so that turning gear 19 will raise and lower the rod. A lower ram 20 includes a sleeve 21 which embraces the outside of the base block and has a lower surface 22 adapted to rest atop the base block when the elevator rod is retracted beneath it.

The lower ram carries a lower die 23 which is vertically reciprocable by the elevator rod. The lower die reciprocates within a sidewall 24, thereby to form with the sidewall an open-topped cavity 16. The vertical position of the lower die is established by the angular position of gear 19. The sidewall is axially extensive enough to embrace the lower die at all of its axial positions. Slots 26 are shown extending partway along the sidewall. These terminate above the top surface of the lower die when the latter is in its lowermost position. These slots provide for the formation of spacer nibs on the sides of the tiles. These always terminate a fixed distance from the upper surface of the tile (the surface contiguous. to the lower die when the blank is formed). An arm 27 is attached to the gear. The angular position of arm 27 determines the height of the elevator rod. A stop 28 on the frame limits the upper height. The base block limits the lower height. A filler tray 3!) slides atop the table and receives a charge of pulverulent material from filler chute 31. The tray includes louvers 32 which act to distribute and partially compact t e material which has flowed into the cavity so as to level it off. An abutment surface 33 is formed on the right-hand face of the filler tray in FIG. 1 for the purpose of shoving a completed tile blank away from the top of the cavity and toward a conveyor belt during the refilling cycle. The filler tray carries a pin 34 which is engaged in a slot 35 in arm 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Means for compacting the pulverulent material in the die cavity is provided above the cavity as shown in FIG. 1. An upper ram 37 is provided which carries an upper die 38, the upper ram and die being adapted to reciprocate along axis 25 and enter into the cavity to compact the material contained therein. A guide sleeve 35 is attached to the frame for guiding the upper ram.

A fork at) is provided at the upper end of the upper ram, each arm of the fork including a cam follower 41 adapted to engage a cam track yet to be described. The ram is a hollow tubing closed at its lower end. A striker block 42 is placed in the bottom of the central passage of the upper ram to take the impact of weights to be described.

A plurality of weights 43, 44, 45 is adapted to be dropped onto the upper ram so that the impact may be transmitted from the upper ram through the material to be compacted to the lower ram and through the base block to the base, thereby impacting the material. Weights 43 and 44 are respectively attached to coaxial tubes 46 and 47, one being placed inside the other. Weight 45 is attached to shaft 48. Tubes 46 and 47 and shaft 43 are coaxial and relatively slidingly disposed within the up per ram.

Weight actuating means is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. With particular reference to FIG. 7, it will be seen that tangs 50, 51, 52 are respectively attached to weights 43,

44 and 45. When the weights are in the uppermost position shown in FIG. 1, the lower ends of all of the tangs are at the same elevation.

Three follower arms 53, 54, 55 are connected to a shaft 56 attached to the frame of the machine. The follower arms have integral therewith and on the other side of the shaft, hooks 57, 58, 59, which are adapted respectively to contact the lower ends of tangs 50, S1 and 52. Follower arms 53, 54 and 55 follow tracks 60, 61, 62 on cam wheel 63. An actuating protrusion 64, 65, 66 is provided in these respective tracks. These protrusions will strike their respective follower arms when they reach datum line 67 in FIGS. 2-5. Cam wheel 63 is attached to cam shaft 68, which is journaled to the frame of the machine. It will be seen from FIGS. -7 that as protrusions 64, 65 and 66 strike follower arms 53, 54 and 55 in that order, then weights 43, 44 and 45 will sequentially be dropped in that order.

Cam wheels 70 (FIG. 2) forms a portion of tray actuating means. It is mounted to cam shaft 68 so as to be turned thereby. Arm 27 is mounted to the frame by hinge 71 and includes a follower arm 72, which follows a cam track 73.

All of the cams are shown aligned on datum line 67 as they would be mounted in the angular relationship and sandwich arrangement as shown in FIG. 6. All actuation is illustrated as occuring at the bottom of the cams on the datum line and the position of the elements in FIG. 1 is similarly so related.

Cam track 73 is adapted to swing the lower end of arm 27 back and forth to slide the tray forward and away from the axis. As the cam track approaches the center of the wheel, it tends to move the filler tray to a position overlaying the cavity. As the cam track moves outwardly, it tends to move the filler tray away from the cavity. Arc A illustrates the filling position, and the cam track has a ripple surface at this point to vibrate the tray and the material carried by it into the cavity. Arc B is the position where the tray is withdrawn from over the cavity, wiping off excess material from the cavity as it leaves. The arcs between arcs A and B are transition positions.

In all of the cams as illustrated, the rises look especially steep because the cam is illustrated in relatively small size. However, in an actual machine, the cam wheels will ordinarily be of steel and made quite massive in order to provide a fly wheel effect. Their diameters will be on the order of about 18 inches, so that the required actuating movements can be derived from smaller and more gradual rises than those shown in the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows upper ram actuating means including a cam wheel 75 having a cam track 76. The follower 41 rides in the cam track. As the cam track departs from the center of the cam wheel, it tends to lower the upper ram. Portion 77 of the track will, in fact, force the ram downwardly. As the cam track approaches the center of the cam, it tends to lift the ram and, as can be seen in FIG. 1, will also lift the three weights with it.

Arc C illustrates the condition in which the upper ram is being lowered into the cavity. Arc D is the position at which the upper ram is in the cavity with portion 77 pressing the ram thereinto so as to provide an initial, gradual compaction of the material. Arc E is the port'ion of the track at which the upper ram and weights will be lifted.

A hook release rise 78 is provided, at which point the All upper ram is lifted slightly. This is for the purpose of.

taking the weight off a retainer member 79, controlled by a solenoid 80 which may hold the upper ram in an inoperative position. When the solenoid permits the hook to underhang extension 81 of the upper ram, then the upper ram cannot move down, and it follows track 82 of the cam wheel. elevated, the solenoid is in a condition such that the retainer member 79 is retracted, then the upper ram may go through the cycle already described. Electrical circuiting (not shown) including a source of electricity and an off-on switch will be provided to control the solenoid.

FIG. 4 illustrates lower ram actuating means which includes a cam follower 85 attached to a pivot arm 86,. which is pivoted to the frame by pin 87. Actuating arm:

88 connects to lever 89, which is attached to gear 19. When cam track 90 on cam wheel 91 moves away from the center, then the actuating arm is lifted and the elevator rod 18 is lowered. When the cam track approaches the center of the cam wheel, actuating arm 88- is lowered and the elevator rod is raised. The lower ram and lower die move with the elevator rod except that a stop 92 limits the upward movement of the lower ram, and the base block limits the lower movement. respect to-th'e lower movement, the elevator rod simply backs away from the lower ram. With respect to the upper limitation at stop 92, overtravel means 93 yet to be described is incorporated in the rod to provide for this overtravel.

Arc F accomplishes an intermediate position at which the upper ram is being moved to an intermediate, filler position, during which time the tray is forward and filling the cavity to hold a volume of material determined by the position of the lower die within the sidewall, which-in turn is a function of the position of the cam in the cam wheel. position at which the elevator rod has been moved away from the lower ram. Arc H accomplishes movement of the die to an uppermost ejector position at which time the tray slides across both to eject the completed tile which has been raised to the level of the table and also to begin filling the cavity as the lower ram lowers awayfrom the table. Overtravel means 93 includes an overtravel spring 95 captive in a cage 96 and opposed by a piston 97.

A- turnbuckle 98 is incorporated in the arm which drives the lower ram to provide thickness control means. The arm is formed in two segments 99, 100. The turnbuckle is threaded to each, with threads of opposite hand, and carries a pair of ratchet gears 101, 102 contactible respectively by solenoids 103, 104. The solenoids are adapted to ratchet the gears in opposite rotational direction, thereby either extending or lengthening actuating arm 88, thereby to adjust the intermediate position of the elevator rod.

The thickness control means is sensitive to an error signal derived from switches 105, 106, which switches are actuated by a contactor 107 which is pivoted to the frame and is in contact with the completed tile.

Switch 105 will be closed if the tile is too thick, and switch 106 will be closed it it is too thin. Neither will be closed if the thickness is correct. The contactor may be adjusted so that its level is sensitive to the desired blank thickness.

An actuator switch 108 is closed by contact with a rise 109 on the cam wheels in FIG. 5. When the actuator switch is closed, it passes power from electrical source 110 to both of the switches. Should one or the other he closed, the electricity is supplied to its respective solenoid, which solenoid is connected to ground 111.

One actuation operates the solenoid one stroke and turns If, when hook release rise 78 is- With' Arc G accomplishes a lower die so as to'adjust the depth of the cavity at the filling position. Every revolution of the cam Wheel, there is an opportunity to derive a signal from contactor 107, thereby ratcheting the arm in one direction or the other so as to correct the intermediate filler position of the rod, thereby to adjust the volume of the die to give more or less of a supply of pulverulent material. The solenoids are mounted to the frame in such a position that when the intermediate position is attained, the solenoids will be in a position to ratchet their respective ratchet gears. Thus, the device is self-correcting as to the blanks produced, although a number of tiles of thickness gradually approaching the correct thickness could possibly be made before the correction is complete, depending on the size of the error.

The operation of the device may be deduced from the foregoing, it being understood that FIG. 1 is a central section of the machine and that these cams, arms and other actuating features may be provided in two sets on each side of the plane of FIG. 1, if desired. However, the device is fully operable with only the elements shown.

With initial reference to the datum line, the tray is forward, filling the cavity, While a finished tile is having its position sensed for correction through the turnbuckle. The lower ram is in the intermediate filling position. The cam wheel of FIG. 5 has just passed the hook release point and the hook remains in place, thereby interrupting the cycle. Assuming that the hook had been withdrawn, however, the ram would next have gradually been lowered while the follower contacted are C, thereby giving an initial gentle compression to the material in the cavity, followed by a pressed-down compression derived from contact of the follower with portion 77. The weights would still be held up by the respective hooks. Before the lower ram reached the cavity, the tiller tray would have been withdrawn. Just after withdrawal of the filler tray, the lower ram would have been lowered to rest upon the base block, and thereafter the weights would have been sequentially dropped as the protrusions contacted their respective followers and released the hook. Next the lower ram and weights would have been lifted by cam wheel, and the hooks would have again engaged the upper ram and all three weights, and the cycle would again be repeated. A motor 100 drives the cam shaft to provide power for the tile press.

This device thereby provides a completely mechanically interlinked and simple device capable, with a few weights of relatively modest mass, to achieve the results of very heavy screw and hydraulic ram presses and rapidly produce tile without requiring the exercise of judgment by the operator.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description, which is given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tile press comprising: an upper ram adapted to reciprocate along a vertical axis; a plurality of weights adapted to be sequentially dropped along said axis to impact on said upper ram; a lower die, a lower ram axially aligned with the upper ram and adapted to reciprocate the lower die along said axis; a sidewall which, with the lower die, forms an open-topped die cavity, the upper ram being so shaped as to enter the cavity to compact material therein; upper ram actuating means for lifting and forcing down the upper ram; lower ram actuating means for adjustably positioning the lower ram on the axis; a filler tray adapted to be moved laterally relative to the axis and over the cavity in order to fill the cavity with material to be compacted; tray actuating means for reciprocating the tray between positions over and away from the cavity; and weight actuating means for sequentially releasing the weights to fall upon the upper ram.

2. A tile press according to claim 1 in which a base block is provided beneath the bottom ram, and in which the lower ram is adapted to assume three positions: an ejector position wherein a completed tile is supported by the lower die to be laterally pushed away from the top thereof, a filler position wherein the die and sidewall form a cavity to receive the proper amount of uncompacted material to form a tile, and a compressive position wherein the lower ram rests on the base to transmit impact blows directly thereto.

3. A tile press according to claim 2 in which the lower ram actuating means comprises an eleva-table rod actuated by an arm, which arm is shifted by cam means'timed in sequential order to the other actuating means.

4. A tile press according to claim 3 in which thickness control means is provided which adjust the length of the said arm in order to adjust the axial position of the lower die in the filler position.

5. A tile press according to claim 4 in which the thickness control means comprises a switch sensitive to the level of a completed tile, and solenoid means for ratcheting a turnbuckle in said arm in response to error signals derived from the switch.

6. A tile press according to claim 1 in which the weight actuating means comprises a retainer member for engaging and supporting each weight in an upper position, and cam means for sequentially releasing said retainer members to permit the weights sequentially to strike the upper ram, said weight actuating means being timed in sequential order to the other actuating means.

7. A tile press according to claim 1 in which the upper ram actuating means comprises a rotary cam track, and a cam follower carried by the upper ram, said cam track being so disposed and arranged as cyclically to lift the ram and weights, and thereafter to lower and then press the upper ram onto the material in the cavity.

8. A tile press according to claim 2 in which the position of the lower ram and die is constant and predetermined, and in which the sidewall extends for the full length of lower die reciprocation, whereby the surface of the tile formed contiguous to the lower die is in constant spaced registration to any discreet axial position along the sidewall irrespective of the thickness of the tile as formed.

9. A tile press comprising: an upper ram adapted to reciprocate along a vertical axis; a plurality of weights adapted to be sequentially dropped along said axis to impact on said upper ram; a lower die carried by the upper ram; a lower ram axially aligned with the upper ram and adapted to reciprocate the lower die along said axis; a sidewall which, with the lower die, forms an open-topped die cavity to compact material therein; upper ram actuating means comprising a rotary cam track and a cam follower carried by the upper ram, said cam track being so disposed and arranged as cylically to lift the ram and weights, and thereafter to lower and then press the upper ram onto material in the cavity; lower ram actuating means comprising an elevatable rod actuated by an arm, which arm is shifted by cam means; a base block beneath the bottom ram relative to which the lower ram is adapted to assume three positions: ejector position wherein a completed tile is supported by the lower die to be laterally pushed away from the top thereof, a filler position wherein the die and sidewall form a cavity to receive the proper amount of uncompacted material to form a tile, and a compressive position wherein the lower ram rests on the base to transmit impact blows directly thereto, the elevatable rod supporting the lower ram in the first two of said positions; a lower tray adapted to be moved laterally relative to the axis and over the cavity in order to fill the cavity to be compacted; tray actuating means for reciprocating the tray between positions over and away from the cavity; weight actuating means comprising a retainer member for engaging and supporting each weight in an upper position, a cam means for sequentially releasing retainer members to permit the weights sequentially to strike the upper ram; cam means for moving the arm control means is provided which adjust the length of'the' said arm in order to adjust the axial position ofthe lower die in the filler position.

11. A tile press according to claim 10 in which-thethickness control means comprises a switch sensitive to the level of a completed tile, and solenoid means for ratcheting a turnbuckle in said arm in response to error signals derived from the switch.

12. A tile press accordingto claim 9 in whichall of the camsa-re attached to a common cam shaft, thereby to maintain the timed relationship of their actuating oper a-tions.

13. A tile press according to claim 9 in which the cams are sufficiently massive to provide a flywheel efiect.

14. A tile press according to claim 9 in which stop means is provided to hold the upper ram and weights in an upper position, and thereby selectively to prevent the start of a tile-making cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,945,563 Owen Feb. 6, 1934 2,755,532 Pallier July 24, 1956 3,050,809 Kupka Aug. 28, 1962 3,079,661 Lamb Mar. 5, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 382,710 Germany Oct. 5, 1923 

1. A TILE PRESS COMPRISING: AN UPPER RAM ADAPTED TO RECIPROCATE ALONG A VERTICAL AXIS; A PLURALITY OF WEIGHTS ADAPTED TO BE SEQUENTIALLY DROPPED ALONG SAID AXIS TO IMPACT ON SAID UPPER RAM; A LOWER DIE, A LOWER RAM AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE UPPER RAM AND ADAPTED TO RECIPROCATE THE LOWER DIE ALONG SAID AXIS; A SIDEWALL WHICH, WITH THE LOWER DIE, FORMS AN OPEN-TOPPED DIE CAVITY TO COMPACT RAM BEING SO SHAPED AS TO ENTER THE CAVITY TO COMPACT MATERIAL THEREIN; UPPER RAM ACTUATING MEANS FOR LIFTING AND FORCING DOWN THE UPPER RAM; LOWER RAM ACTUATING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY POSITIONING THE LOWER RAM ON THE AXIS; A FILLER TRAY ADAPTED TO BE MOVED LATERALLY RELATIVE TO THE AXIS AND OVER THE CAVITY IN ORDER TO FILL THE CAVITY WITH MATERIAL TO BE COMPACTED; TRAY ACTUATING MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE TRAY BETWEEN POSITIONS OVER AND AWAY FROM THE CAVITY; AND WEIGHT ACTUATING MANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY RELEASING THE WEIGHTS TO FALL UPON THE UPPER RAM. 